Cost of Living in O'Brien County, Iowa
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How O'Brien County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
O'Brien County ranks #1,592 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 49%)
Sourced county brief
O'Brien County GRAPI Estimated at 21.4% of Income
The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) for O'Brien County was 21.4% during the 2020-2024 period. This represents a value 4.0 percentage points below the Iowa unweighted county mean of 25.4%. The median gross rent was $868 per month, which is $36 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $832. For owner-occupied housing, the median home value was $173,100, while the state unweighted county mean was $171,037. Median selected monthly owner costs were $851, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $950. The median income for renter households was $45,781. These data points provide a statistical overview of housing tenure costs based on the latest ACS 5-year snapshot. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: O'Brien County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 21.4% of renter household income in O'Brien County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $868 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $851. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $34,720 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Iowa unweighted mean of county median rents is $832 per month. O'Brien County's $868 median is 4.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in O'Brien County
Rent Burden
15.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,595
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.9%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in O'Brien County
Median home value is $173,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,382 vs. your max of $1,595.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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